Free Hidden in a Whisper by Tracie Peterson Page B

clientele that would be drawn to Casa Grande. The resort was expensive, and that in and of itself would help to keep the riffraff out. And given the diversity of Morita, Esmeralda was a firm believer in keeping society properly divided.
    â€œWell, you’d be welcome just the same,” Lettie continued. “We all think it’s just wonderful the way Morita is coming to life. I walked down Main Street yesterday and thought I’d bust a button when I saw the new apothecary. You know how I suffer with my headaches and that strange little pain I get in my back. It’ll be nice to have remedies so close at hand.”
    Esmeralda harumphed this breech of etiquette. Lettie would have discussed her physical ailments with total strangers if given a chance.
    But instead of rebuking, Esmeralda picked up a bell to ring for tea.
    â€œI’m certain the town will continue to grow and meet the additional needs of its citizens,” she finally replied. “Ah, here is Eliza with our tea.”
    Esmeralda hired only a few workers for her home. She cherished her privacy, and a large house staff would hardly fit with this need. Servants tended to put their noses where they oughtn’t. With only a few trusted people—a cook, a butler, and a housemaid—Esmeralda was more certain of keeping them under control.
    The young, dark-headed woman poured their tea and offered a selection of cakes before replacing the tray on the cart and bobbing a curtsy. Esmeralda waved her off before sipping the lightly creamed tea.
    â€œI presume Mr. Johnson is busy at work on the church budget,” Esmeralda said as she placed her cup and saucer on a nearby table.
    Lettie took a bite of her rich dessert, spilling powdered sugar on the front of her brown dress. She laughed and nodded, working to brush off the crumbs. “That he is,” she managed to say in between chewing. She didn’t appear to notice that her manners were atrocious.
    â€œHe’s real excited about the improvements you want to make. Just imagine, real pews in the church! Those benches have been so uncomfortable that it’s hard to concentrate.”
    Esmeralda rolled her eyes, grateful that Lettie’s attention was focused on the dessert tray. “Would you care for another?”
    Lettie grinned. “Well, I shouldn’t, but you know you have the best cook in town. Perhaps you should have her start up a bakery. I’ll bet folks would come from miles around.”
    Esmeralda nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind. Please help yourself.”
    Lettie did so, as Esmeralda knew she would. She could hardly abide the woman’s manners, but there was something about these Tuesday afternoon visits that Esmeralda refused to let go of. Perhaps it was because Lettie was one of the few to come calling. Esmeralda ranked herself clearly above the other women in the community, and she could hardly expect them to worship at the heels of their matriarch and include her in daily activities.
    â€œSo what else do you have planned for Morita?” Lettie asked.
    Knowing the woman to be unable to keep a secret, Esmeralda smiled stiffly. She had long since learned that this was the easiest way to get information out and about the town. “We are to have a new dentist and another dry goods store,” she told the woman. “We have a new saloon, which of course I was not a bit happy about, but it is on property that did not belong to me. I suppose they shall make a rowdy time for themselves,” Esmeralda relayed, “but with them positioned near the river, it is my hope that they will not be a problem to proper society.”
    Lettie laughed. “Saloons and soiled doves seem to be a natural fact of life for towns out here. Why, the mining town we left in Colorado had twenty saloons in a four-block setting. We didn’t even have a school or proper church building, but those saloons were never empty.”
    Esmeralda nodded,